# NTSB FTW02LA258: Air Tractor AT-302, N8843S, Lacompte, LA, September 13, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 13, 2002, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Lacompte, LA - Coordinates: 31.080987, -92.389282 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.0810&lon=-92.3893&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55711 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA258 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55711/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA258 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for undetermined reason. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain available to the pilot for the forced landing, and low altitude maneuvering. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, maneuvering - aerial application - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - low altitude flight/maneuver - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The 10,150-hour pilot reported that "while making a spray run to the east, [he] pulled up at the end of the field over a tree line at about a 50 to 60 degree climb angle when the engine completely powered down or quit without any warning." The pilot further reported he estimated his altitude to be 60 to 80 feet above the ground when the engine lost power so he immediately banked the airplane to the right in an attempt to land in an adjacent small pasture. Ground scars and evaluation of the damage sustained by the airplane were consistent with the airplane impacting the ground in a shallow right turn at a high rate of descent. Fuel was found in fuel system and there was no post-impact fire. The operator reported that the loss of engine power may have been caused by "fuel cavitations;" however, the reason for the reported loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On September 13, 2002, approximately 1230 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-302 agricultural airplane, N8843S, was substantially damaged when it impacted the terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Lacompte, Louisiana. The airplane was registered to M & J Equipment Company LLC and operated by M & J Flying Service LLC of Plaucheville, Louisiana. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight flight. The local flight originated from a private staging airstrip located near Plaucheville, at 1030. The 10,150-hour pilot reported that "while making a spray run to the east, [he] pulled up at the end of the field over a tree line at about a 50 to 60 degree climb angle when the engine completely powered down or quit without any warning." The pilot further reported he estimated his altitude to be 60 to 80 feet above the ground when the engine lost power so he immediately banked the airplane to the right in an attempt to land in an adjacent small pasture. The pilot added that the airplane "seemed to be below the power curve as [he] applied flaps." The airplane then rolled right before impacting the ground. According to an FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, the Garrett TPE-331-1-151A engine separated from the airframe and both wings were structurally damaged. Ground scars and evaluation of the damage sustained by the airplane were consistent with the airplane impacting the ground in a shallow right turn at a high rate of descent. The airplane was fragmented into 5 major sections and it appeared that the airplane may have cart-wheeled following the initial ground impact. Fuel was found in fuel system and there was no post-impact fire. The operator reported that the loss of engine power may have been caused by "fuel cavitations;" however, the reason for the reported loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8843S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8843S-2003-01-02), registration cancelled 2003-01-02, S/N 302-0213, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT-302 - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-302](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-302) (registry code 0390104) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [AiResearch TPE331 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/airesearch-tpe331-series) (registry code 01517, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 302-0213 - Airframe hours: 7888.2 - Engines: Allied Signal TPE-331-1-151 665 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: M & J Flying Service LLC, doing business as M & J Flying Service - Registered owner: M & J Equipment Company LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 25, 2002, 80 hours before - Departed: NONE, Plaucheville, LA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 15, 2002; seat: center ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: AEX, 13 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20020913027739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020913027739A), Sep 13, 2002: Airtrc AT302, Lecompte, LA, Destroyed. (-23) Pilot was race tracking over a bean field 3 miles outside Lecompte, Louisiana, pilot pulled up in front of a row of trees, turned left and the engine… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.